Conceptual and methodological challenges in the study of symbolic representation

Ondertitel:an introduction

How is symbolic representation to be conceptualized and empirically examined? There is no unique answer to this question and each of its possible answers raises particular methodological challenges. The Dialogues section Investigating symbolic representation explores new directions for theorizing about and empirically investigating symbolic representation. This collection of contributions seeks to advance the study of symbolic representation in three key ways. Firstly, we suggest that gender politics scholars need to conceptually clarify how symbolic representation should be understood. Secondly, this concern leads us to examining in a more systematic way what are the expected links between symbolic representation and the other two dimensions of political representation Pitkin distinguished descriptive and substantive representation. Thirdly, we call gender and politics scholars to critically engage with the question about which methods and research tools may allow us to effectively grasp symbolic representation at the empirical level.

Jaar van publicatie:2017